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As of July 1st, 2021, the US Hispanic/Latinx community is estimated at 62.6 million, making up 18.9% of the population. Despite federal regulations requiring access to medical interpreters, clinicians often resort to alternative translation methods, increasing the risk of errors. Medical Spanish education lacks standardization in US medical schools, and information on curricula provided by International Medical Schools (IMGs) is limited. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of virtual, peer-led Medical Spanish education for an international medical school cohort. The course consisted of 10 weekly one-hour lectures via Zoom. From 2022 to 2023, three cohorts successfully completed the course. Through realistic clinical scenarios, students practiced and reinforced their clinical knowledge in Spanish. The final exam involved a 20-minute patient encounter on Zoom, with the instructor acting as the patient and the student as the physician. Performance evaluation followed a standardized checklist. Each question was worth 3 points, with a total of 63 potential points. The passing score ratio was set at 2, equivalent to 66.7%, calculated by dividing the score by 21 (the number of questions). Student's self-reported comfort in obtaining a history and physical exam in Spanish, obtained before and after completion of the course post-comfort scores (median, 3), increased significantly compared to pre-course comfort scores (median, 0.5) - increased by an average of 2.5. This Online Spanish Medical Course (OSMC) requires no prior Spanish background or exposure, providing a notable advantage. Most students praised the convenient and effective online format. Despite its short duration, the course yielded significant benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As of July 1st, 2021, the US Hispanic/Latinx community is estimated at 62.6 million, making up 18.9% of the population. Despite federal regulations requiring access to medical interpreters, clinicians often resort to alternative translation methods, increasing the risk of errors. Medical Spanish education lacks standardization in US medical schools, and information on curricula provided by International Medical Schools (IMGs) is limited. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of virtual, peer-led Medical Spanish education for an international medical school cohort. The course consisted of 10 weekly one-hour lectures via Zoom. From 2022 to 2023, three cohorts successfully completed the course. Through realistic clinical scenarios, students practiced and reinforced their clinical knowledge in Spanish. The final exam involved a 20-minute patient encounter on Zoom, with the instructor acting as the patient and the student as the physician. Performance evaluation followed a standardized checklist. Each question was worth 3 points, with a total of 63 potential points. The passing score ratio was set at 2, equivalent to 66.7%, calculated by dividing the score by 21 (the number of questions). Student’s self-reported comfort in obtaining a history and physical exam in Spanish, obtained before and after completion of the course post-comfort scores (median, 3), increased significantly compared to pre-course comfort scores (median, 0.5) - increased by an average of 2.5. This Online Spanish Medical Course (OSMC) requires no prior Spanish background or exposure, providing a notable advantage. Most students praised the convenient and effective online format. Despite its short duration, the course yielded significant benefits.

This study explores the implementation of online learning for basketball courses at STKIP PGRI Bangkalan compared to offline basketball courses. Employing a true experimental design with a posttest-only control setup, the research gathers data through pretest and posttest scores. The study ensures validity through expert validation and assesses reliability using product-moment correlation. Normality tests are performed with the one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, while differences are evaluated using an independent sample t-test. This research reveals significant differences between online and offline learning environments. The analysis highlights a decrease in performance during online courses with a mean difference of 9.29870, underscoring the challenges faced by students in adapting to online learning platforms. The study contributes valuable insights into the effectiveness of online learning in physical education, providing a basis for future educational strategies and interventions.

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This paper focuses on the analysis of teacher and student activity during the videoconference course which has grown considerably during the COVID-19 health crisis, by taking as object of study the interactions that take place between these two actors. The urgent transition to distance learning has forced teachers and students to adapt their activity to new training modalities. The classroom is transported to the private space or to another professional space such as the office and the teacher and students take part in the course in a virtual space through a screen. Our research aims to understand how teachers and students interact in this new environment. In this paper, we present the theoretical framework that guided our research, we outline our mixed research methodology based on qualitative and quantitative data and finally we share specific elements of our result by focusing on the degree of multimodality of interactions in videoconference course and the effects induced by physical and technical environment.

The development of IT has led to the emergence of digital educational platforms that offer a variety of training courses. Among such courses are information hygiene courses relevant for Ukrainian citizens (the hybrid war causes demand to counteract information influences). The problem becomes the choice of such a course that would best meet the needs of the consumers of the course. The task of choosing a course is unstructured and multicritorial. Therefore, to solve it, it seems reasonable to use the Saaty (hierarchy analysis) method to solve problems of choosing the best alternative among the proposed ones. The authors substantiate the feasibility of using the Saaty method to select an online course and build a model of the educational task for choosing an online course according to the selected criteria. The model is based on five criteria and three alternatives (three various courses, A1–A3). Expert assessment from three experts is presented. The results of the pedagogical experiment are given (data from three student groups). The Saaty method has proven effective in solving choice tasks in the educational process. Therefore, mastering the method is recommended for the teacher, the mentor, or the facilitator.

The article proposes a solution to a scientific problem, which is to substantiate the feasibility of using online courses in the professional training of masters in the pedagogical university, to develop an online course and experimentally test its effectiveness as a means of developing the professional competencies of masters in the speciality 014~Secondary Education (Mathematics). The author used the following methods of scientific research: pedagogical experiment, observation (for systematic perception and analysis of learning activities, motivation and personal growth of students in the context of blended learning), testing (to determine the level of logical thinking and development of students’ professional competences), questionnaire (to monitor the ergonomics and efficiency of the online course and the Mathematics teacher’s e-portfolio), expert evaluation of the developed online course, and methods of mathematical statistics (for proper processing of experimental data and verification of the online course’ effectiveness). The results of the control stage of the study indicate a positive trend in the development of mathematical, information and educational, methodological, psychological and pedagogical, and professional and technological competencies of students in the experimental group. The final test of the online course was chosen as a tool for determining the level of mathematical competencies of the masters in the experimental group. The reliability of the assessment of the masters’ professional competencies was confirmed by testing the hypothesis of the normal distribution of test results according to the Shapiro-Wilk test. In addition, a close correlation between students' academic achievement level in an online course and the level of logical thinking development was substantiated using the Student’s t-test. Prospects for further research include the development of online courses on Mathematics teaching methods with an emphasis on methodical, professional, and technological competencies; a detailed study of the impact of the latest information technologies (artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, web programming, etc.) on the development of students’ information and educational professional competences in distance and blended learning.

The purpose of the paper is to point out the possibilities of teaching and learning Slovak as a foreign language. The course Slovak as a foreign language allowed foreign students to overcome problems while studying professional subjects in manufacturing technologies. The goal was the creation of suitable professional study material tailored for technical specialization students. Slovak language teachers used mixed methods and forms of study (face-to-face and online). They tried to improve the Slovak language communication skills of manufacturing technologies students. The results of e-exercises and the final e-test of 120 foreign students in the 1st year of bachelor's studies in the summer semester of 2022 were compared. Later the strengths and weaknesses of students were found. The level of professional Slovak terminology was improved by eliminating the most common mistakes. The Moodle platform was used for learning and teaching Slovak as a foreign language as well as Slovak professional terminology.

The COVID-19 pandemic was likely to generate the greatest disruption in educational opportunity worldwide in a generation. This disruption has impacted the livelihoods of individuals, and the prospects of their communities. The international and interdisciplinary course was designed by two universities: from Poland and from Israel due to new challenges in high education to consider. The main idea of this course was to develop students’ creativity and innovation by design thinking method. The course also addressed student’s socio-emotional needs. The group of twenty-five education students from both countries took part in online weekly sessions during two months. The evaluation of this project indicated that students were really satisfied with participating in it and they achieved not only their professional goals but personal as well.

Digital accessibility of e-learning provides an opportunity to fully participate in the educational process for all students, including persons with disabilities. Each specialist involved in the development of e-learning content and resources should be competent in digital accessibility and universal design. The authors propose a methodological approach to the development of digital accessibility competencies and present the results of testing this approach in practice. In 2021, on the basis of one of the Russian universities, a methodology for the formation of digital accessibility competences was developed and tested, including a system of competences, tools for testing formed competences, a curriculum and an appropriate online course. In addition, a study sample was formed (177 undergraduate and graduate students), a training course was conducted, and training outcomes were analyzed. It is for the first time that a methodological approach to the formation of digital accessibility competences has been proposed in the Russian Federation. The training outcomes confirmed the efficiency of the proposed approach: 96% of the students successfully completed the training, of which more than 67% achieved intermediate and advanced levels of the competences. A significant positive correlation was found between the successfully completed current tasks and the results of the final tests of self-assessment and formal assessment. It was shown that the training efficiency did not depend on how (voluntarily or compulsorily) the students were enrolled in the course, whether there were pedagogical disciplines in their curricula and what was the level of their university education. The relationship found between the results of final self-assessment and the results of formal assessment can be interpreted as consistency between satisfaction with the training and its success. The developed methodological tools, including the online course, can be used for the professional training of teachers, the formation of professional competences of IT specialists as well as the improvement of the overall digital literacy of specialists involved in the development of digital content.

Purpose: Knowledge of clinical pharmacotherapy is essential for all who prescribe medication. The aims of this study were to investigate differences in the pharmacotherapy and polypharmacy knowledge of medical and surgical residents and consultants and whether this knowledge can be improved by following an online course. Methods: Design: A before-and-after-measurement. Setting: An online course available for Dutch residents and consultants working in hospitals. Study population: Dutch residents and consultants from different disciplines who voluntarily followed an online course on geriatric care. Intervention: An online 6-week course on geriatric care, with 1 week dedicated to clinical pharmacotherapy and polypharmacy. Variables, such as medical vs surgical specialty, consultant vs resident, age, and sex, that could predict the level of knowledge. The effects of the online course were studied using repeated measures ANOVA. The study was approved by the National Ethics Review Board of Medical Education (NERB dossier number 996). Results: A total of 394 residents and 270 consultants, 220 from surgical and 444 from medical specialties, completed the online course in 2016 and 2017. Residents had higher test scores than consultants for pharmacotherapy (73% vs 70%, p < 0.02) and polypharmacy (75% vs 72%, p < 0.02). The learning effect did not differ. Medical residents/consultants had a better knowledge of pharmacotherapy (74% vs 68%, p < 0.001) and polypharmacy (77% vs 66%, p < 0.001) than surgical residents/consultants, but the learning effect was the same. Conclusions: Residents and consultants had a similar learning curve for acquiring knowledge, but residents outperformed consultants on all measures. In addition, surgical and medical residents/consultants had similar learning curves, but medical residents/consultants had higher test scores on all measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the crucial issue of effectively implementing usability principles in educational internet resources. By engaging with the latest research in the field, we investigate the influential factors shaping the outcomes of online education. Through a comprehensive analysis, we identify and examine six well-established criteria of usability design: Information Quality, System Navigation, System Learnability, Visual Design, Instructional Assessment, and System Interactivity. Additionally, we propose the existence of a seventh criterion termed Responsiveness. To shed light on the practical application of usability principles, we focus on the open platform "Higher School Mathematics Teacher" as a case study. Through a survey administered to 203 respondents, comprising both teachers and students, we sought to gather their valuable perspectives as the initial users of the platform. The insights gained from this study provide guidance for the implementation of usability criteria on the platform, particularly during the development of online courses. The findings strongly suggest that all seven subcategories of usability are pivotal in the design of online courses on the platform. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on usability implementation in educational technology, offering valuable insights for developers, educators, and researchers alike. By recognizing the significance of these criteria, educational internet resources can be enhanced to create more engaging, accessible, and effective learning environments.

Abstract Background There is a worldwide deficit in teaching and training in the field of radiology for undergraduate medical students. This educational gap is prominent in many medical schools as most radiology curricula are a part of other specialty trainings, usually provided by non-radiologists. After COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased trend in online education. However, questions have been raised about the efficacy and acceptance of online education. We developed a course on the principles of radiology and medical imaging basics to target Egyptian medical students. We then assessed the impact of these educational videos through several online surveys. Our "The Principles of Radiology Online Course" was delivered to students at various Egyptian medical schools; it was a prerecorded series composed of nine sessions, and each session followed the sequence of a pre-test, video, and post-test. There was a final survey to assess the overall feedback. Finally, we analyzed the results to give insight onto how teaching radiology through online lectures can help build better physicians. Results Among various medical schools around Egypt, 1396 Egyptian medical students joined this cohort. Cohort population percentage was 56% female and 44% male. Ninety-eight percent of the students agreed that this program increased their understanding of radiology. Eighty-four percent of the students found the platform friendly and easy to use. Seventy-nine percent found these webinars were more convenient compared to in-person education. Statistical significance (p-value

In this article, we present a proposal for instrumental orchestration that organizes the use of technological environments in online mathematics education, in the synchronous mode for the concepts of eigenvalue and eigenvector of a first linear algebra course with engineering students. We used the instrumental orchestration approach as a theoretical framework to plan and organize the artefacts involved in the environment (didactic configuration) and the ways in which they are implemented (exploitation modes). The activities were designed using interactive virtual didactic scenarios, in a dynamic geometry environment, guided exploration worksheets with video and audio recordings of the work of the students, individually or in pairs. The results obtained are presented and the orchestrations of a pedagogical sequence to introduce the concepts of eigenvalue and eigenvector are briefly discussed. This work allowed us to identify new instrumental orchestrations for online mathematics education.

Digitalization of education and the development of electronic pedagogy as a branch of pedagogical science are the conditions that actualize the analysis of online courses application mo-dels which is the purpose of this study. Based on the analysis of scientific pedagogical literature, the article addresses the typology of online courses integration models implemented in the traditional (face-to face) educational process. The author has studied and summarized the various approaches to selecting integration models of online courses in Russian and foreign scientific and pedagogical literature and developed a typology of patterns of online courses application based on three criteria: the organization of the educational process (characteristics: the character of the online course incorporating in the educational process, a way of organizing the educational process), the contents of traditional face-to-face and online components in the learning content (characteristics: a change in the structure of educational process, forms and methods of training), and the organization of interaction between the subjects of the educational process (characteristics: organization of pedagogical support, organization of pedagogical interaction between the subjects). This approach made it possible to pinpoint thirty-four models of online courses application and integration. Each model implemented in practice can be identified unambiguously when typologizing by one characteristic of the corresponding criterion and refer to several types when considering its different characteristics.

Background: Web-based continuing professional development (CPD) is a convenient and low-cost way for physicians to update their knowledge. However, little is known about the factors that influence their intention to put this new knowledge into practice. Objective: We aimed to identify sociocognitive factors associated with physicians’ intention to adopt new behaviors as well as indications of Bloom’s learning levels following their participation in 5 web-based CPD courses. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of specialist physicians who had completed 1 of 5 web-based CPD courses offered by the Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec. The participants then completed CPD-Reaction, a questionnaire based on Godin’s integrated model for health professional behavior change and with evidence of validity that measures behavioral intention (dependent variable) and psychosocial factors influencing intention (n=4). We also assessed variables related to sociodemographics (n=5), course content (n=9), and course format (eg, graphic features and duration) (n=8). Content variables were derived from CanMEDS competencies, Bloom’s learning levels, and Godin’s integrated model. We conducted ANOVA single-factor analysis, calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and performed bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 400 physicians participated in the courses (range: 38-135 physicians per course). Average age was 50 (SD 12) years; 56% (n=223) were female, and 44% (n=177) were male. Among the 259 who completed CPD-Reaction, behavioral intention scores ranged from 5.37 (SD 1.17) to 6.60 (SD 0.88) out of 7 and differed significantly from one course to another (P<.001). The ICC indicated that 17% of the total variation in the outcome of interest, the behavioral intention of physicians, could be explained at the level of the CPD course (ICC=0.17). In bivariate analyses, social influences (P<.001), beliefs about capabilities (P<.001), moral norm (P<.001), beliefs about consequences (P<.001), and psychomotor learning (P=.04) were significantly correlated with physicians’intention to adopt new behaviors. Multivariate analysis showed the same factors, except for social influences and psychomotor learning, as significantly correlated with intention. Conclusions: We observed average to high behavioral intention scores after all 5 web-based courses, with some variations by course taken. Factors affecting physicians’intention were beliefs about their capabilities and about the consequences of adoptingnew clinical behaviors, as well as doubts about whether the new behavior aligned with their moral values. Our results will inform design of future web-based CPD courses to ensure they contribute to clinical behavior change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication deficits belong to the most frequent errors in patient handovers calling upon specialized training approaches to be implemented. This study aims to harness problem-based learning (PBL) methods in handover education and evaluated the learning process. A digitally enabled PBL course was developed and implemented at Klinikum Osnabrück from which eight nurses participated in the course. They agreed on the stimulating effect of the setting regarding self-directed learning and on the potential to translate the new knowledge and skills into the daily clinical practice. In conclusion, the findings are promising that a digitally enabled PBL course is a suitable learning format for handover education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a worldwide deficit in teaching and training in the field of radiology for undergraduate medical students. This educational gap is prominent in many medical schools as most radiology curricula are a part of other specialty trainings, usually provided by non-radiologists. After COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased trend in online education. However, questions have been raised about the efficacy and acceptance of online education. We developed a course on the principles of radiology and medical imaging basics to target Egyptian medical students. We then assessed the impact of these educational videos through several online surveys. Our "The Principles of Radiology Online Course" was delivered to students at various Egyptian medical schools; it was a prerecorded series composed of nine sessions, and each session followed the sequence of a pre-test, video, and post-test. There was a final survey to assess the overall feedback. Finally, we analyzed the results to give insight onto how teaching radiology through online lectures can help build better physicians. Results: Among various medical schools around Egypt, 1396 Egyptian medical students joined this cohort. Cohort population percentage was 56% female and 44% male. Ninety-eight percent of the students agreed that this program increased their understanding of radiology. Eighty-four percent of the students found the platform friendly and easy to use. Seventy-nine percent found these webinars were more convenient compared to in-person education. Statistical significance (p-value < 0.05) was achieved in all sessions after comparing students' pre and post-test scores, and in students' confidence and knowledge level before and after the course. Conclusions: Radiology is an underrepresented subject for a lot of medical students. Online radiology webinars have proven to be a promising method of teaching medical students key medical imaging concepts. An online course of radiology basics and principles can help improve a medical student's knowledge and enhance overall future patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the application of "Internet + Education" in undergraduate inorganic chemistry, and provide reference experience for online teaching of similar courses. Based on the teaching method which combined with WeCom and Shixing online school of Capital Normal University, the teaching practice of the university inorganic chemistry online course is discussed during the COVID・19 epidemic・ This paper elaborates the teaching strategies of pre class, in class, after class and online assessment in detail, analyzes the examination results and satisfaction survey results of students, compares the differences of online teaching methods adopted by different colleges and universities, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of online teaching, and gives solutions to the shortcomings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication between healthcare providers and patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) is frequently hampered by mutual misunderstanding and dissatisfaction. Methods: We developed an online, interprofessional course to teach healthcare providers the knowledge, skills, and attitude they need to diagnose and treat PSS in a patient-centered manner based on the biopsychosocial model. The course consisted of six modules of 45–60 min. Each module contained different types of assignments, based on six cases: videos, discussion boards, reading assignments, polls, and quizzes. For this study, we included (1) medical residents, following the course as part of their residency training, and (2) healthcare providers (general practitioners, medical specialists, physiotherapists, nurses, and psychologists), following the course as continuing vocational training. Throughout the course, participants were asked to fill out online surveys, enquiring about their learning gains and satisfaction with the course. Results: The biopsychosocial approach was integrated across the modules and teached health care workers about recent insights on biological, psychological and social aspects of PSS. In total, 801 participants with a wide variety in clinical experience started the course; the largest groups of professionals were general practitioners (N = 400), physiotherapists (N = 124) and mental healthcare workers (N = 53). At the start of the course, 22% of the participants rated their level of knowledge on PSS as adequate. At the end of the course, 359 participants completed the evaluation questionnaires. Of this group, 81% rated their level of knowledge on PSS as adequate and 86% felt that following the course increased their competencies in communicating with patients with PSS (N = 359). On a scale from 1 to 10, participants gave the course a mean grade of 7.8 points. Accordingly, 85% stated that they would recommend the course to a colleague. Conclusion: Our course developed in a co-design process involving multiple stakeholders can be implemented, is being used, and is positively evaluated by professionals across a variety of health care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Communication between healthcare providers and patients with persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) is frequently hampered by mutual misunderstanding and dissatisfaction.Methods: We developed an online, interprofessional course to teach healthcare providers the knowledge, skills, and attitude they need to diagnose and treat PSS in a patient-centered manner based on the biopsychosocial model. The course consisted of six modules of 45–60 min. Each module contained different types of assignments, based on six cases: videos, discussion boards, reading assignments, polls, and quizzes. For this study, we included (1) medical residents, following the course as part of their residency training, and (2) healthcare providers (general practitioners, medical specialists, physiotherapists, nurses, and psychologists), following the course as continuing vocational training. Throughout the course, participants were asked to fill out online surveys, enquiring about their learning gains and satisfaction with the course.Results: The biopsychosocial approach was integrated across the modules and teached health care workers about recent insights on biological, psychological and social aspects of PSS. In total, 801 participants with a wide variety in clinical experience started the course; the largest groups of professionals were general practitioners (N = 400), physiotherapists (N = 124) and mental healthcare workers (N = 53). At the start of the course, 22% of the participants rated their level of knowledge on PSS as adequate. At the end of the course, 359 participants completed the evaluation questionnaires. Of this group, 81% rated their level of knowledge on PSS as adequate and 86% felt that following the course increased their competencies in communicating with patients with PSS (N = 359). On a scale from 1 to 10, participants gave the course a mean grade of 7.8 points. Accordingly, 85% stated that they would recommend the course to a colleague.Conclusion: Our course developed in a co-design process involving multiple stakeholders can be implemented, is being used, and is positively evaluated by professionals across a variety of health care settings.

The sphere of education has been recently facing gradual changes in approaches and attitudes of all its participants to the process of studying. Rapid digitalization together with global life challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic gets technology to be used together with traditional means of education in order to meet the needs of today's learners not only in a painless but also in a favourable way. The article considers the necessity to modernize the traditional process of studying and optimize it for learners, who deal with individual or forced distance study, caused by the pandemic as well. The up to date change implementation can be possibly accomplished with the help of specialized applications and web systems, particularly the online course platform Canvas, which stands in the focus of our paper. Previous studies and researches connected with similar and / or the same platform are mentioned briefly. The article also reveals technical capability and features of the Canvas system, presents the investigation of its conformity with students’ current needs through our analysis of its advantages and disadvantages and describes its pros and cons not only from the point of view of students, who are considered to be the representatives of the main category or platform users, but also considering teachers’ experience and impressions of Canvas as a primary or a subsidiary educational system with courses. The readers of this article may get acquainted with the main elements of the Canvas platform structure, learn about their characteristics and decide whether to approve or disapprove such an alternative to outdated course attendance. Furthermore, the research includes a survey conducted among 50 students, who had already used the platform in appliance with their curriculum and were asked to share their impressions starting from logging in to giving an overall review of this concentration of online courses. In the final analysis we provide the readers of the article with a general conclusion about the platform, its conformity with the requirements of the educational system and learners’ needs specifically.

The article deals with the instructional design of an integrative Business English course for master’s students of a technical university (a case study of the Saint Petersburg Mining University) for blended and/or flexible learning. The main goal is to design a course that can be used as a full-fledged online course in asynchronous learning and is at the same time adjustable to the existing offline Business English course. The research uses methods such as observation, focus groups, surveying, empirical research and analytical and descriptive methods. The authors see a solution in a special instructional design based on the integration of traditional teaching approaches in offline learning, information technology and elements of infotainment and edutainment. The article presents the results of the target audience analysis and the needs analysis, outlines the structure of the course, specifies approaches to enhance motivation in master’s students and presents an integrative system of assessment and evaluation of the learners’ knowledge and skills. The key features of the instructional design of the Business English course suggested include exposure to professional scenarios, learners’ reflection, multiple instruments encouraging learners’ cognitive activity and performance and an opportunity to apply their knowledge to actual performance rather than summative assessment.

This material is the last text of Prof. A.S. Robotova received by the Editor. The text is theses to a possible article on her favorite humanitarian topic. The paper addresses the issues of the specific of online humanitarian text. The resources of online course may be found in the common for teacher and students time-space context, their emotional and cognitive affinity. The author believes that special attentions should be paid to composition and semantic expressiveness of the content. It may be reached by intellectual tension, clash of texts, facts and data, which switches on the mechanism of internal dialogue and activates student’s interest.

Digitalization of modern education leads to a change in the style of the educational activities of students and professional work of higher school teachers. The professional standard of education workers oblige educators not only to develop educational content discipline, but also apply ICT to manage student’s training activity. The aim of the research was to study the capacity of the standard user statistics tool in LMS MOODLE for course optimization on three parameters – content presentation, temporary course structure and quality of educational measurement tools. These options, according to the authors, are the main factors for users’ motivation to consistent use of online courses during the semester. The study of statistical characteristics of student activity in e-course “Informatics” based on LMS MOODLE has been carried out during three years. The experiment covered the first-year students enrolled in the “Electricity and Electrical Equipment”. The results of the content optimization and presentation of the discipline have shown a positive change in the dynamics of the student’s activity during the semester. The findings of this study have a number of practical implications. Optimization of the learning process with the use of online course requires designing of a course with week module structure and singled out micro-targets. The learning material should be presented in various formats taking into account students’ preference for infographics. This contributes to raising the academic performance on the whole. Statistical analysis of test tasks differentiating capacity will substantially improve the quality of tools for educational measurement. It is shown that the use of a MOODLE statistics tool to estimate the user activity makes it possible the documented testing the effectiveness of innovations in pedagogical design of e-course.

The introduction to interpersonal communication course (IPC) is popular for both communication majors and nonmajors alike, and as such, many departments have designed online versions of the course. Teaching IPC in this format has challenges, given its dual emphasis on theoretical understanding and skill-building. This reflection essay explores the efficacy of providing audio feedback on essays in the online IPC course, as a way to create a positive online presence, manage the grading load, and encourage students to implement the feedback. The rationale for this approach to feedback and implementation strategies are provided, as well as a discussion of outcomes from the intervention. A review of course data and perceptions indicated gains in student application of course material and satisfaction with the audio feedback mechanism.

The article deals with an analytical description of problems caused by integration of foreign learning platforms into the Russian education system. It provides the main results and conclusions reached within the frame of the fundamental quantitative research project. The project goals were the following: to study Russian experience in using learning platforms, foreign ones in particular; to study abundance of foreign learning platforms; to reveal and specify typical risks caused by their functioning in Russian education sphere. The authors analyze statistical information obtained through processing the data of survey of experts in online education. They consider colligated opinions and assessments by professional community of integration and application of foreign learning platforms, online courses arrangement on them and the complex of those potential threats for Russian education that could be caused by their use. The work notes that learning platforms are an innovative form of education activities management, but their integration in the national system of education is connected with a number of risks. The article gives a contemporary review of learning platforms in the Russian educational field in terms of their nominal recognition, their real demand for by the experts in online education and their long-term benefits for national education. The principal criteria for the choice of learning platforms usage in education are stated and summarized on the basis of the empirical data. The study contains a description of a complex of main tasks for Russian education; in the professional environment their successful solving is linked to the shift to online education technology. Within the frame of forecasting and evaluation of risks in education there have been defined some threats which are typical for both domestic and foreign learning platforms as well as those which are specific for the latter ones. Risks interpretation is based on theoretical preliminary studies and experts’ survey data related to the subject. The categorical range of risks obtained includes content risks, social, economic and political risks, psychological and pedagogical risks, management risks. The authors raise the problem of regulation of foreign learning platforms integration into the Russian education system. The work contains the arguments for and against control in this sphere.

Online course study is relevant due to their active integration into higher education in Russia and the variety of ways they can be used to implement the concept of life-long education. With the development of e-pedagogy theoretical analysis of online courses as an educational resource becomes a matter of research interest and is the aim of this paper. We analyzed pedagogical scientific works to sum up the characteristic features of online courses, define the term “online course”, break online courses up into groups, describe them as a type or form of education. We suppose online course should be considered as an organized aim-directed educational process based on principles of e-pedagogy and supported by means of modern ICT; a complete, logically and structurally solid educational unit provided with a unique system of electronic means of training resources and means of monitoring. We have worked out a classification of online courses taking the following six criteria: pedagogical approach, interaction of students, period of study, organization, purpose of learning, access to the course. Types of online courses are grouped into categories based on the criteria. The types are catalogued and characterized in the descriptive part of the classification.

Introduction: the article imparts authors’ thoughtson a new teaching methodology for mathematical education in universities. The aim of the study is to substantiate the efficiency of the comprehensive usage of mathematical electronic courses, computer tests, original textbooks and methodologies when teaching mathematics to future agrarian engineers. The authors consider this implementation a unified educational process. Materials and Methods: the synthesis of international and domestic pedagogical experience of teaching students in university and the following methods of empirical research were used: pedagogical experiment, pedagogical measurementsand experimental teaching of mathematics. The authors applied the methodology of revealing interdisciplinary links on the continuum of mathematical problems using the key examples and exercises. Results: the online course “Mathematics” was designed and developed on the platform of Learning Management System Moodle. The article presents the results of test assignments assessing students’ intellectual abilities and analysis of solutions of various types of mathematical problems by students. The pedagogical experiment substantiated the integrated selection of textbooks, online course and online tests using the methodology of determination of the key examples and exercises. Discussion and Conclusions: the analysis of the experimental work suggested that the new methodology is able to have positive effect on the learning process. The learning programme determined the problem points for each student. The findings of this study have a number of important implications for future educational practice.

Education for the general public about antibiotic resistance is advocated as a key component of our response to this crisis. Since this is a multidisciplinary problem encompassing natural, medical and social sciences, it is an educational challenge as both students and lecturers will have vastly different backgrounds in the topics. Here we describe an online multidisciplinary course on antibiotic resistance spanning topics as diverse as chemistry and practical philosophy. The target group was any post-secondary school student and the participating students had different occupations and educational experience. Although as many as 38% of the students were currently studying natural sciences at university, the course included a diverse group with medical professionals (16%) and teachers (6%) making up a significant fraction of the class. The outcomes based on examination and the course evaluations were very positive and we have indications that the information students gained from this course has been spread to others. Unlike other online courses addressing antibiotic resistance, this course is both accessible to a wide range of students and covers a broad range of topics. We advocate courses like ours as an effective tool in educating the public about this crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reveals a potential of open online courses in higher education in order to increase its efficiency and availability. The organizational and methodological aspects of e-learning development in higher education are considered. The economic background for implementing open online courses in the educational process is under analysis. On the basis of benchmarking the best foreign and Russian practices the authors propose different cases for online courses implementation to higher education programs, as well as organizational and financial schemes of interaction between higher education institutions.

This paper reports the experience of implementing a teacher’s professional development strategy that sought to foster e-moderator competencies among language faculty at a Colombian public university. The study aimed at finding the extent to which participants understood the concepts of e-moderation and e-tivities. We analyzed the participants’ performance in three different tasks to give account of the incorporation of the concepts. The results from the analysis of the tasks showed that participants understand online processes, they have some technical skills and they have many personal characteristics that will help them become e-moderators.

AimTo report an evaluation of health professionals’ participation in a distance-learning physical activity training course developed in a low socio-economic region of São Paulo city, Brazil.BackgroundIn countries with public universal health systems, physical activity promotion in primary health care settings can reap results, particularly given that such interventions have the potential to reach a large percentage of the population. However, few studies proposed physical activity training for health professionals in low- and middle-income countries. Brazil is a continental country and has the Unified Health System which incorporates family health teams in over 85% of Brazilian cities.MethodsThe physical activity training was part of the fifth module of an educational intervention throughout a distance-learning course focusing on health professionals at M’Boi Mirim district in São Paulo city. The training totaled 3 h and had five themes of physical activity: (1) concepts, definitions benefits; (2) evaluation; (3) recommendation; (4) interventions; (5) physical activity counseling. The opinion of health professionals was evaluated after training by two open questions.FindingsOut of 106 professionals who took part of the course, only 22.6% (n=24) had accessed the fifth module. These professionals were predominantly female (79.2%), nurses (66.7%) and aged 30 years or older. Responses highlighted the course approach focused on physical activity for improving patient’s quality of life and well-being, disease prevention and health improvements. Regarding the themes for improvement, the health professionals identified that there was a need to experience physical activity classes first-hand, and the need to link physical activity counseling to the local venues that provide structured physical activity programs. We recommend that further training courses can be conducted based on this model for health professionals to promote physical activity to the community in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article is based on the ZOE project, Zoonoses Online Education, (2016-1-RO01-KA203-024732), funded by Erasmus+. The project aims to create open digital educational resources in the field of veterinary medicine based on developing innovative guidelines on zoonotic diseases. The article looks at the main findings of the project's state-of-the-art research in Romania on the 5-10 most encountered and identified zoonoses in the last 10 years at national level. The project research has evaluated the medical literature on zoonotic diseases in the veterinary field and highlighted a variety of diseases that cover the spectrum of infectious agents and display a variety of transmission patterns in different environments, identifying ways of intervention in the local context. This article looks at the second most spread disease present in the-state of-the-art research, Leishmaniasis. The analysis will be incorporated into a guide and an open online course guide on main infectious diseases transmitted from non-human animals to humans, including videos capturing zoonoses bio-manipulation in simulation centres. It will also be part of a guide and an open online course on medical communication, including the zoonoses videos processed from a linguistic, cultural and communication point of view, available in six languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online course has created many success stories since its inceptions. It has opened opportunities for learners, instructors, universities, companies, and other organizations to fulfill their needs in education and even creates new needs which previously are unthinkable possible. Online course providers have central roles in bridging and fulfilling the needs of these many parties. This paper modelled online course services based on identification of the needs for online course in a form of activity flow diagrams. The model also includes the context diagram of stakeholders involved and the entity relationship diagram. Primary service components of major online course providers and activities involved in each service are identified. Based on these service components, a comparison of services offered by major online course providers is given. The needs of services that are least or not yet satisfied from online course providers are also identified to show that there are still opportunities to enhance the current services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]